Method for preparation of polyvinyl ethers



United States Patent 3,468,856 METHOD FOR PREPARATION OF POLYVINYL ETHERS Harumi Asai, Tokyo, and Hisataka Komai and Nobuhide Hada, Yokohama, Japan, assignors to The Japanese Geon Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a corporation of Japan No Drawing. Filed Sept. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 577,176 Claims priority, application Japan, Sept. 15, 1965, 40/ 56,057 Int. Cl. C08f 1/28, 3/38 US. Cl. 260-803 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process for the preparation of vinyl ether polymers by the polymerization of a vinyl ether in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising (a) an organo aluminum compound of a general formula wherein X represents a halogen atom, R is a member selected from a group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups, and n is an integer of 0-2; (h) a carboxylic acid anhydride; and (c) a Friedel-Crafts halide, the mol ratio of (a) to (b) being 10-l:1 and the mol ratio of (a) to (0) being l:l.

This invention relates to a novel polymerization process of vinyl ether. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyvinyl ether of high degrees of polymerization in the presence of novel polymerization catalyst. I

By means of bulk or solution polymerizationof vinyl ether at lower temperatures in the presence of a Friedel- Crafts type catalyst, polymers of various types ranging from viscous liquid to balsamor soft resin-like substance are obtained. Normally for obtaining high polymer of vinyl ether, it is required that the polymerization should be carried out at considerably low temperatures below room temperature, such as 30 C. or below, except for the process using as the catalyst metal sulfatesulfuric acid complex or Grignard reagent and oxygen.

The object of the present invention is to provide a process by which it is possibleto produce with ease polyvinyl ether of high degrees of polymerization with surprisingly high yield, at relatively high reaction temperatures such as around 0 C., by the use of an appropriate polymerization catalyst in the polymerization reaction of vinyl ether.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

After extensive researches, we discovered that the following three substances, viz., organo aluminum compound, organic acid anhydride and Friedel-Crafts halide, mutually react to form a catalyst composition of very high catalytic activity suitable for the above object of the invention.

Among the three components forming the catalyst composition useful for the invention, the first, viz., organo aluminum compound, is expressed by a general formula AlX R;, in which n is an integer ranging 0-2, X is a halogen atom represented by fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, and R is a member selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups. Typical examples thereof include triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-namylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, dimethylaluminum fluoride, dimethylaluminum chloride, diethylaluminum chloride, diisopropylaluminum chloride, ethylaluminum dichloride, ethylaluminum sesquichloride, diethyl-ethylenylaluminum, tricyclohexyl- 3,468,856 Patented Sept. 23, 1969 n. u C

aluminum, triphenylaluminum, tri-p-tolylaluminum, phenylaluminum dichloride, diphenylaluminum chloride, tribenzylaluminum; alkyl-, alkenyl-, cycloalkyl-, arylor aralkyl-aluminum halide mixtures obtained by direct reaction of aluminum metal with alkyl-, alkenyl-, cycloalkyl-, arylor aralkyl halide; or alkyl, alkenyl-,"cycloalkyl-, arylor aralkyl aluminum halide mixtures obtained by mixing alkyl-, alkenyl-, cycloalky1-, arylor aralkylaluminum with aluminum halide. As the second component, viz., organic acid anhydride for example, acetic anhydride, propionic anhydride, butyric anhydride, stearic anhydride, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, acrylic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, benzoic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, acetic-propionic anhydride, acetic-butyric anhydride and the like are contemplated. Whereas, as the third component, viz., Friedel-Crafts halide, halides or oxyhalides of aluminum, barium, boron, beryllium, bismouth, calcium, cedmium, cesium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, gallium, silver, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, lead, rhodium, antimony, silicon, tin, titanium, uranium, vanadium, tungsten, zinc, zirconium, etc. are used, among which the particularly preferred being titanium tetrachloride, molybdenum pentachloride, molybdenum oxychloride, vanadium trichloride, vanadium tetrachloride, vanadium oxychloride, manganese chloride, zinc chloride, cobalt chloride, iron chloride, nickel chloride, aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, tin chloride, titanium tetrabromide, titanium tetraiodide, titanium tetrafluoride, and the like. The quantitative ratios of the above three components forming the catalyst composition of the invention can be varied over a wide range. Normally, however, the organo aluminum compound is 10-1 time the organic acid anhydride in terms of molar ratio, preferably within the range of 5-2 times, and 201 time the Friedel-Crafts halide, preferably within the range of 5-1 time.

The order of addition of those three components to form the catalyst system of the invention does not appreciably affect the polymerizability or yield, but normally they are added by the order of organo aluminum compound, organic acid anhydride and Friedel-Crafts halide. And these three components form a still more active catalyst composition when aged subsequently to the addition thereof to the reaction system.

The amount for use of the catalyst composition of the invention again may be optionally varied over a wide range, but normally it is from 0.01 to 20 mol percent to the monomer, the preferred range being 0.05 to 5 mol percent.

Vinyl ether monomers to be subjected to the polymerization in accordance with the present invention include alkylvinyl ether, cycloalkylvinyl ether, aralkylvinyl ether, arylvinyl ether, and the corresponding propenyl ether or isopropenyl ether and alkylbutadienyl ether, etc. As the alkylvinyl ether, for example, methylvinyl ether, ethylvinyl ether, n-propylvinyl ether, isopropylvinyl ether, nbutylvinyl ether, isobutylvinyl ether, neopentylvinyl ether, n-hexylvinyl ether, 2-ethylhexylvinyl ether, stearylvinyl ether, n-dodecylvinyl ether, ni-tetradecylvinyl ether, 2- cyanoethylvinyl ether, chloromethylvinyl ether, 2-chloroethylvinyl ether, trifluoroethylvinyl ether, 2-methoxyethylvinyl ether and the like may be named. Whereas, as cycloalkylvinyl ether, cyclohexylvinyl ether, isobornylvinyl ether, a-terpinylvinyl ether and the like are contemplated. As aralkylvinyl ether, benzylvinyl ether, p-chlorobenzylvinyl ether, a,a-dimethylbenzylvinyl ether, etc., and as the arylvinyl ether, phenylvinyl ether, p-methylphenylvinyl ether, etc. may be named. Furthermore, as the alkylbutadienyl ether, there are l-methoxy-1,3-butadiene, 1- ethoxy-1,3-butadiene 1-propoxy-l,3-butadiene, l-butoxy- 1,3-butadiene and 2-methoxy-1,3-butadiene, etc. These vinyl ether monomers may be used alone or as mixtures of two or more of the monomers. Also, for example, by copolymerizing an alkylbutadienyl ether as a vinyl ether monomer component, a polymer which is cross-linkable with sulfur can be obtained. r

In the polymerization system in which the catalyst of a the invention is used, the catalyst and the monomer may be added continuously or intermittently, or the entire amount may be added at one time.

In the polymerization of vinyl ether in the presence of the catalyst in accordance with the invention, the use of solvent is optional. Usable solvents include aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, benzene, and toluene; aliphatic and aromatic halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, dichloroethane, and monochlorobenzene.

The temperature of the polymerization system in accordance with the invention normally lies within the range of -100 C.-200 C., preferably -80 C.-100 C. Temperatures in the vicinity of 0 C. are particularly advantageous. The pressure ranges from atmospheric to 300 atmospheres.

chloride, and the aging was continued for additional 2 hours with shaking at room temperature. To the catalyst system then 38.1 g. (0.38 mol) of isobutylvinyl ether dried with metal sodium was added, and the mixture was polymerized at 0 C. for 3 hours with shaking. Thereafter the polymerization was terminated by addition of methanol to the reaction mixture. Subsequently the reaction mixture was thrown into a large quantity of methanol to separate the polymer. The product was dissolved in benzene, again precipitated with methanol, and frozen in the form of a benzene solution and dried. A solid polymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 3.5 (measured at C. using toluene) was obtained at a yield of 85.3%. (Unless otherwise specified, intrinsic viscosities hereafter appearing were all measured under the same conditions.)

Examples 2-12 Using each different organo aluminum compound as indicated in Table 1 below in place of triethylaluminum of Example 1, each corresponding solid polymer as in Table 1 was obtained.

TABLE 1 Titanium tetra- Organo aluminum compound Organic acid chloride Yield Intrinsic Ex. No. (millimol) anhydride (millimol) (millimol) (percent) viscosity 2 Triisobutylaluminum (0.5) Acetic anhydride (0.2)..- 0.1 100 2. 73

8 Diethylaluminum chloride (0.3) do 0.1 85 2.0

9 do .do 0.05 34 5. 1

10 ..do Maleie anhydride (0.1) 0. 05 92 1. 3

11 .do Maleic anhydride (0.05)- 0.05 98 2. 3

12 Ethylaluminurn dichloride (0.3).-. Acetic anhydride (0.2)-.. 0. 1 96 1. 0

Now the invention will be explained more specifically with reference to the working examples.

Example 1 A well dried pressure-resistant 100 ml. glass polymerization vessel was filled with dry nitrogen, and into Examples 13-20 TABLE 2 Organic acid anhydride Triethyl- Titanium Polymeri- Polymerialuminmn tetrachlozation zation Example Amount Amount ride Amount temp. time Yield Intrinsic No. Type (mllllmol) (millimol) (millimol) 0.) (hr.) Percent viscosity 13 Phthalic anhydride- 0. 29 0.37 0. 18 5 0. 4 8i). 5 1. 1 Succmic anhydride. 0.20 0.73 0.37 5 0. 4 8G. 5 1. 2 Maleic anhydride 0. 43 0. 54 O. 27 5 2. 6 43. 6 2. 2 d 0. 24 0. 56 0. 28 5 0. 6 91. 7 1. 8 0. 0. 0. 05 5 1. 5 73. 3 2. 3 0. 20 0. 50 0. 05 5 1. 5 03. 4 3. 4 0. 10 0. 50 0.10 5 l. 5 -100 3. 18 0.10 0.50 0.05 5 1. 5 94. 7 4. 3

which 50 ml. of toluene thoroughly dried with calcium Examples 21-27 hydride was added, followed by the addition of 0.0575 g. (0.5 millimol) of triethylaluminum and 0.0204 g. (0.2 millimol) of acetic anhydride. After aging for an hour with shaking at room temperature, the system Was further added with 0.0189 g. (0.1 millimol) of titanium tetra- Example 1 was repeated except that the Friedel-Crafts halide was varied each time as indicated in Table 3, producing solid polymers in all cases as indicated also in Table 3.

, 3,468,856 6 Examples 28-34- earbon-chlorine bond. The composition in percentage of Example 1 was repeated except that the aging each of the polymers shown in Table 8 was calculated after the addition of 0.5 millimol of triethylaluminum from the result of chlorine content of the P TABLE 8 Polymer composition (percent) Yield Intrinsic Example No. Monomer I (mol) Monomer II (mol) (percent) viscosity Monomer I Monomer II 49 Isobutylvinyl ether (0.076) 2-chloroethylvinyl ether (0.010) 95. 4 1.9 88.8 11. 2 50 do 2-ohl0rethylvinyl ether (0.020) 90.4 1. 7 82.7 17. 3 51 2-ethyhexylvlny1 ether (0.053)--. 2-chloroethylvinyl ether (0.010). 60.2 0.8 86.5 13. ii

and 0.4 millimol of acetic anhydride (time A) and that Examples 52-53 after the addition of 0.2 millimol of titanium tetrachloride (time B) were varied each time and that the polymerizatioxll was q for hours with and 0.02 mol of alkylbutadienyl ether specified in Table the ts ass own m a e 9 was used, producing solid polymers as shown also in TABLE 4 Table 9. The infrared absorption spectra of both of the Example 1 was repeated except that as the vinyl ether monomer, a mixture of 0.36 mol of isobutylvinyl ether Aging time A Aging time B Yield n r n polymers indicated the presence of carbon-carbon double Example N 0 (min.) (min.) Percent viscosity b d 5 10 44.5 0.7 5 60 77.5 0.7 TABLE 9 fg E 1 N Mk 1b d. Yield Intrinsic 1 g 25 xampe o. y uta ienyl ether (percent) viscosity 60 0 52, 1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene. 96. 5 3.1 60 60 2 53 1-butoxy-1,3-butadiene 94.3 2.9

Examples -37 W l i Example 1 was repeated except that the toluene used 3 A Process the P 'P of a Vinyl ether P yas the solvent therein was replaced by various solvents 'Whlch compllses polymerllll'lg a monomeric System as in Table '5, roducin solid 01 mers as indicated also consisting of one more Vinyl ethel's at a temperature p g p y within the range of -80 to 100 C. in the presence of a in Table 5.

TABLE 5 catalyst composition compnsing (a) an organo aluminum 35 compound of a general formula Yield Intrinsic Example No. Solvent (percent) viscosity AlX R Dichloromethane -100 1.7 wherein X represents a halogen atom, R is a member se- $3333 3% is lected from a group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl 40 and aralkyl groups, and n is an integer of 0-2; (b) a car- Examples 38 41 boxylic acid anhydride; and (c) a Friedel-Crafts halide,

. the mol ratio of (a) to (b) being 10-1:1 and the mol ratio Example 1 was repeated except that the polymerizatlon of (a) to (6) being temper?ture f Varied 9 time as in P 2. A process for the preparation of a vinyl ether poly- Producmg solld Polymers In all cases as 5 Own a so m mer which comprises polymerizing a monomeric system Ta consisting of one or more vinyl ethers at a temperature TABLE 6 within the range of 80 to 100 C. in the presence of Polymerization Yield Intrinsic a catalyst composition formed by the steps of mixing car- Example p- 0.) (pe c viscosity boxylic acid anhydride with an organo aluminum com- 38 60 81 8 44 pound of a general formula i8 23:? 32% A1x 1 78 28.3 3.25

wherein X represents a halogen atom, R 1s a member se- Examples 42-48 lected from a group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups, and n is an integer of 0-2, and fur- Example 1 was f' except a the ether ther mixing the resultant mixture with a Friedel Crafts monomer to be P Y 5 vaned each'tlrfle as halide, the organo aluminum compound and carboxylic shown in Table 7, producmg SOlld polymers as indicated acid anhydride being mixed at a mol ratio of 104.1 with alsoinTable the Friedel-Crafts halide being mixed in a mol ratio to TABLE 7 the organo aluminum compound of 20-1 1.

. Yield Intrinsic 3. A process for the preparation of a vinyl ether poly- Example No. Monomer (percent) viscosity mer WhlCh comprlses polymerlzmg a monomeric system Ethylvinylether 979 L2 CQIISlStlng of one or more vlnyl ethers at a temperature n-Buty1viny1et -5 8.2 wlthm the range of 80 to 100 C. 1n the presence of a if g g f fig xwg fgi 83:8 5? catalyst composition formed by the steps comprising mixg ltleltradtelfiyllvinylegllller 2g. s 0. 73 ing a carboxylic acid anhydride with an organo aluminum 47 -c oroe y viny e er 43 z-methoxyethylvinyl ether 88 5 2. 4 compound of a general formula Examples 49'51 wherein X represents a halogen atom, R is a member se- Example 1 was repeated except that as the vinyl ether lected from a group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl monomer, a mixture of isobutylvinyl ether and 2-chloand aralkyl groups, and n is an integer of 0-2, aging the roethylvinyl ether, or a mixture of Z-ethylhexylvinyl ether mixture, further mixing therewith a Friedel-Crafts halide and 2-chloroethylviny1 ether was used, producing solid and aging the resultant mixture, the organo aluminum polymers as shown in Table 8. The infrared absorption compound and carboxylic acid anhydride being mixed at spectra of all the polymers indicated the presence of amol ratio of I'D-1:1 with the Friedel-Crafts halide 'being 7 mixed in a mol ratio to the organo aluminum compound of 20-121.

4. A process for the preparation of a vinyl ether polymer which comprises polymerizing a monomeric system consisting of one or more vinyl ethers at a temperature within the range of -80 to 100 C. in the presence of a catalyst composition formed by aging a mixture of (a) an organo aluminum compound of a general formula wherein X represents a halogen atom, R is a member selected from a group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups, and n is an integer of -2; (h) an organic acid anhydride and (c) a Friedel-Crafts halide, the mol ratio of (a) to (b) being -l:1 and the mol ratio of (a) to (c) being 1:1.

5. The process according to claim 1 in which the polymerization is performed in the presence of a solvent which is capable of maintaining the polymerization system at solution state.

6. A process for the preparation of a vinyl ether polymer which comprises polymerizing a monomeric system consisting of one or more vinyl ethers at a temperature within the range of -80 to 100 C. in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising (a) an organo aluminum compound selected from a group consisting of triethylaluminum diethylaluminum chloride, ethylaluminum di- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,627 12/1960 Field et a]. 3,026,290 3/ 1962 Gluesekamp. 3,065,220 11/1962 McManimie et al. 3,260,698 7/1966 Nakano et a1. 2,271,381 9/1966 Andersen et al.

OTHER REFERENCES Takakura et al., Chem. ABS., 63 (1965) pp. 7110b. Solvay, Chem. ABS., (1964) pp. 14629f.

HARRY WONG, J 11., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,468 ,856 September 23 1969 Harumi Asai et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Columns 3 and 4 TABLE 1 sixth column, line 10 thereof,

"2.3" should read 2.1 same columns, TABLE 2, seventh column, line 4 thereof, "0.6" should read 2 6 Column 6, line 30, "proportion" should read preparation Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCI-IUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

